DAILY GRACE
July 7, 2020, Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Matthew 9:32-36
After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“. . . he had compassion for them. . . .”
Jesus has healed a few other people of different infirmities prior to healing the mute person, also described as a “demoniac.” Immediately after Jesus heals him, the people in the crowd proclaim, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” They marvel over the fact that neither they nor their ancestors had ever seen anything like this. In other words, they are saying that what Jesus is doing is even greater than the marvels the Lord had done through Moses, who lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Then the Pharisees weigh in. They claim something very different, indeed opposite! They contend that Jesus commands devils to leave their victim not by the power of God, but by the power of the devil. What a letdown! What dejection this must have caused the crowd. These poor people who are looking for help, who live such a hard life and are desperate for help —- no wonder Jesus has compassion for them.
Matthew, the evangelist, would have us know that all these miracles that Jesus did were a direct sign that Jesus is the Messiah — the one God promised to send. “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him shall you listen” (Dt. 18:15). Jesus himself tells John’s follower something similar when they come to ask Jesus if he is the Messiah (see Mt. 11:2-6).
The truth is that we ourselves may at times attribute God’s gifts to other sources, such as luck or coincidence. We might even take away the joy of others when they bask in the marvels God has done for them. I think that Jesus’ heart was moved with compassion for the people when he saw the dejection that they must have felt. He recognizes their need, my need, your need, for a shepherd — someone who guides us to true life, God’s life. That Shepherd always takes delight in those he shepherds.
Prayer
Lord, I confess that I don’t always recognize that what I am blessed with comes from You. Sometimes I allow myself to believe that I am gifted and blessed for other reasons. This attitude creates a distance between You and me. Help me to allow myself to be guided by You, the Great Shepherd, that I may experience healing and offer it to others. Amen.
Contemplation
He has compassion for me.